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For information related to general industry, see OSHA's Trenching and Excavation page.

• Construction. OSHA's Alliance Program. This is one of OSHA's Strategic Management Plan Focus Areas.

• Construction. OSHA. A Spanish version is also available. Helps workers identify and control the hazards that cause serious construction-related injuries.
  
  • Trenching and Excavation

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart P, Excavations
  • 1926.650, Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart
  • 1926.651, Specific excavation requirements
  • 1926.652, Requirements for protective systems
  • Appendix A, Soil classification
  • Appendix B, Sloping and benching
  • Appendix C, Timber shoring for trenches
  • Appendix D, Aluminum hydraulic shoring for trenches
  • Appendix E, Alternatives to timber shoring
  • Appendix F, Selection of protective systems
• 1926 Subpart S, Underground construction, caissons, cofferdams, and compressed air
  • 1926.800, Underground construction
• 1926 Subpart V, Power transmission and distribution
  • 1926.956, Underground lines

• For additional information on specific state plan states or other general standards, see the general industry OSHA Standards page.

• The OSHA Regulatory Agenda contains an entry related to Construction - Trenching and Excavation. OSHA has announced its intent to conduct a Section 610 review (also known as a “Lookback review”) of the Excavation Standard (29 CFR 1926, Subpart P). OSHA regularly reviews existing standards to determine whether the standards should be maintained without change, rescinded or modified.

• Inspection Procedures for Enforcing the Excavation Standard, 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P. CPL 02-00-087 [CPL 2.87], (1990, February 20). Establishes inspection procedures and provides clarification to ensure uniform enforcement of the Excavation Standards.
• Search all available directives.

• 29 CFR 1926.651(i)(1); excavation operations. (2006, January 10).
• Search all available standard interpretations.

• OSHA Technical Manual (OTM). OSHA Directive TED 01-00-015 [TED 1-0.15A], (1999, January 20).
  • Excavations: Hazard Recognition in Trenching and Shoring. Summarizes the OSHA regulations for trenching.
    • Site Assessment Questions
• Overview for Subpart P Excavations. OSHA Construction Resource Manual. Discusses proper procedure and safe practices in excavation.
• US Department of Labor (DOL), North Aurora, IL Area Office. Aurora OSHA Construction News 3.2(2002, Fall). Also available as a 454 KB PDF, 6 pages. Provides articles discussing trenching contractors not in compliance and their top ten reasons for noncompliance with the trenching standards, reports fatalities and injuries investigated in Illinois, ranks most frequently cited standards, discusses protective systems and the competent person.
• Excavations. OSHA Publication 2226, (2002). Also available as a 533 KB PDF, 44 pages. Highlights key elements of 29 CFR 1926.650, shows ways to protect employees against cave-ins, and describes safe work practices for employees.
• The 100 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Construction Standards in 1991: A Guide for the Abatement of the Top 25 Associated Physical Hazards. OSHA Publication, (1995, March). Also available as a 2 MB PDF, 100 pages. Helps employers and employees identify and correct hazards related to the most frequently cited OSHA standards found on construction sites throughout the United States. PPE-related standards were found at the number 2, 7, and 19 positions on this list of 100.
• Analysis of Construction Fatalities - The OSHA DataBase 1985-1989. OSHA, (1990, November). Contains valuable statistics concerning excavation and trenching related accidents.
• Construction - Pocket Guide. OSHA Publication 3252-05N, (2005). Also available as a 285 KB PDF, 36 pages.
• Preventing Injuries and Deaths From Skid Steer Loaders. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-117, (1998, February). Also available as a 395 KB PDF, 2 pages. Describes six deaths involving skid steer loaders and recommends methods for preventing similar incidents.
• Preventing Deaths and Injuries From Excavation Cave-Ins. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (1997, March 11). Provides several case reports, OSHA standards that apply to these cases, and recommended courses of action.
• Excavation Work Special Trade Contractors. US Census Bureau, (1992). Provides samples of available 1992 statistics related to special trade contractors and excavation work.
• Excavation Safety. VirginiaTech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). Establishes guidelines and procedures relating to safety on excavation sites at Virginia Tech. Provides information regarding best practices for related hazards and assessments and inspection guidelines.
• Trenching and Shoring Procedures. Oklahoma State University, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manuals, (2002, March 19). Sets forth the official practices required for excavations made by Oklahoma State University employees on property owned by Oklahoma State University.

• Construction Industry

• Potential trenching hazards bring fines to company in LA. OSHA Region 6 News Release, (2003, May 9). Failure to protect employees from potential trenching and excavation hazards has brought Coushatta Empire Inc. of Oakdale, La., $99,400 in proposed penalties from the Baton Rouge area office of the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
• OSHA issues bulletin on hazards of striking underground gas lines. OSHA Trade News Release, (2003, June 13). Safety and Health Information Bulletin issued by OSHA advises contractors on hazards associated with striking underground gas lines during excavation work.
  • Hazards Associated with Striking Underground Gas Lines. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB), (2003, May). Also available as a 24 KB PDF.
• OSHA, Florida Institute for Safety and Construction Form Alliance. OSHA Region 4 News Release, (2003, June 18). OSHA and Florida Atlantic University's Institute for Safety and Construction have formed an alliance designed to assist in identifying and removing safety hazards at construction sites.

• Excavation. Oregon-OSHA. Includes publications, fact sheets, workbooks/instructor guides, and a video/DVD library.
  • Excavation Safety. Oregon-OSHA Workshop 302, 2 MB PDF, 94 pages. Provides information on excavation work in construction, discussing specific hazards resulting from excavation work and requirements for protective systems. A 3 MB PDF, 34 page instructor guide is also available.
  • Excavations. Oregon-OSHA Publication 2174, 2 MB PDF, 32 pages. Describes differences between excavations and trenches, the role of a competent person, how cave-ins occur, how soil is tested, protective systems, and getting in and out of an excavation. Includes a safe practice checklist.
• Trench Safety - A Tutorial for Constructors. Auburn University, Building Science Department.

• Development of Draft Construction Safety Standards for Excavation. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 83-103, (1983).
• Yokel, Felix Y. Soil Classification for Construction Practice. US Department of Commerce. Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, 1980.